The Lemon Index2013 Ford Fiesta.
The 2013 Ford Fiesta is one of the worst years by owner complaints: 390 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 452, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about transmission & drivetrain, it has 3 recalls, and it gets 32 mpg combined. The best Ford Fiesta year is 2018.
Lemon alert. 4.5× the average car's complaints.
Best year 2018
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 668 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Ford Fiesta year. 2013 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 8K to 63K miles on the car (547 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 4K–52K miles
- engine complaints mostly came at 5K–54K miles
- body structure complaints mostly came at 15K–51K miles
Recalls 3
- latches/locks/linkages 2020
These vehicles were previously recalled and repaired under recalls 15V-246, 16V-643 or 17V-210, however the repair may not have been completed properly.
- latches/locks/linkages 2015
On April 30, 2015, Ford expanded the recall to cover an additional 119,567 vehicles, including certain model year 2011 Ford Fiestas manufactured from November 11, 2009, to May 31, 2013 and certain model year 2013 Ford Fu…
- airbags 2012
The vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." The passenger side curtain air bag will not deploy in the event of a side impact collision when the fro…
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 89 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Some vehicles, experiencing, no start, crank, intermittent start, hard start or noise during…
- Engine noise like a buzz or saw, occurring with a range of 950rpm and 1200rpm on some…
- Transmission fluid leaked on clutch assembly and by using metal parts cleaner, containing 60%…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Government investigations
- ClosedDoor latch failures2019–2022
- ClosedDoor latch failure2015
- ClosedDoor latch failure2014–2015
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Fiesta 5 HB FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Fiesta 4 DR FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2000 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.6L 4-cyl.
In owners' words
This car shudders and shakes between 1st and third as it changes gear may be tps or tranny dealer says nothing found Ford is investigating!!??
2013 Ford Fiesta owner · NHTSA complaint 10515006
More owner reports
Transmission is junk. Jerking and sputtering going from 1st to 2nd. Unsafe, has been to Ford 3 or more times for this and they can't fix it.
NHTSA complaint 10795177
Makes noise while driving between 30-50 ml/h from day one. Many times, from stationary to move, it will suddenly jump, accelerate, hard to control. Has known transmission problem and sometime will not start.
NHTSA complaint 10859933
Quick answers
Is the 2013 Ford Fiesta reliable?
No, it is one of the worst by government complaints. It drew 4.5× the average car's complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 452; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Ford Fiesta year by this measure is 2018.
What are the most common 2013 Ford Fiesta problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (64%), engine (18%) and body structure (13%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2013 Ford Fiesta have?
3 safety recalls (latest: latches/locks/linkages). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2013 Ford Fiesta get?
32 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2013 Ford Fiesta safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2013 Ford Fiesta problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 8,800 and 63,000 miles. The middle report was at 31,500 miles, from 547 complaints.
Does the 2013 Ford Fiesta have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 64% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2013 Ford Fiesta cost in fuel a year?
About $2000 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2013 Ford Fiesta have?
1.6L 4-cyl.
What Ford Fiesta year is better than the 2013?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2018, 2019 and 2017.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works